When Somebody Makes a Prayer Request

I think a lot of times people just flippantly say “I’m praying for you” or “I’ll pray for you”, but more often than not, it’s just lip-service.  They may truly mean it at the time, but then they might forget later or not make it a priority.  Sometimes people just don’t know WHAT or HOW to pray for the other person making the prayer request.  Today I’d like to help you out with this by giving you some suggestions for not just offering lip service when a prayer request is made of you and for how to actually pray for that person when they ask.

Pray right then and there

To address the first issue, I’ll give you some tips for how to actually pray for them and not just say that you will.  The first and best piece of advice that I can give you is what works for me.  Stop whatever you are doing, and pray for them right then and there.  You can’t forget to do it later if you do it right now.  It should only take you a couple of minutes, if that.  You don’t even have to pray out loud or even with them if that makes you uncomfortable.  Just take a second to say a silent prayer on their behalf.

Make a note to pray

The next thing you can do is to make yourself a note to pray for them.  Write yourself a reminder to pray for that person later and/or to check on them again to see how they are doing.  I’ve found myself writing things on post-it notes, index cards, adding a note to my phone, or setting a reminder alarm, and I even have a prayer request app on my phone that I use from time to time.  I also write prayers in my quiet time journal. Additionally, the Bible app has a place to make a prayer list.

One thing that I haven’t started yet that I would like to start is a separate prayer journal.  I’d like to have a place where I can write my own prayer requests to God along with others as a physical and tangible list and reminder.  Then I’ll also be able to go back and mark when they were answered.   Maybe a prayer journal would be a good idea for you too?  The point is, when you write things down, it’s easier to remember to do them.  Plus, you have a tangible reminder to do so.

As far as HOW to pray for them…

First, you’ll need to try to get some more specifics if you can.  It’s much easier to know HOW to pray for somebody when you know WHAT you are praying for.  Sometimes people aren’t comfortable giving details though, and that’s okay.  You might just have to ask them, “What would you like me to pray?” or “Is there anything specific that I can pray for you?”  The more information you get, the more it will help you with my next suggestion.

The next thing you can do when you pray for someone who has requested prayer is to find a verse or two in the Bible to go with your request.  Praying God’s word over the situation is scriptural and powerful.  God says for us to remind Him of His word.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 (NIV)

“Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right.” Isaiah 43:26 (ESV)

He likes to remind Him of His promises—I think more for our sake than His.  Praying scripture will give you confidence in your prayer and will build your faith in the process.  Therefore, we need to find a promise that fits the situation or that expresses the heart of the request.  You can ask the person who has made a prayer request, “Is there a specific verse that you are praying, believing, or standing on?”  Many times the Holy Spirit will remind you of a verse or one will just pop into your head.  If not, see if you can find one by doing a topic or word search in your concordance, in your Bible app or even by googling “scripture about _____”.

When finding scripture it’s also important to find something in God’s word to agree with our prayer.  We should always pray in agreement with God’s will.  If we ask according to His will, it will be done.  His will is in His word.  Therefore, find something in His word that shows that your prayer request is in agreement with His will.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

Take Some Practical Steps When Somebody Makes a Prayer Request:

1. First, when somebody makes a prayer request, stop whatever you are doing, and pray for them right then.

2. Second, make yourself a note to continue to pray for them.

3. Then, try to get some details if you can so that you can pray more specifically.

4. Next, find a promise (Bible verse) that fits the situation or that expresses the heart of the prayer request and is in accordance with God’s will for the circumstance. 

To give you an example… When preparing to speak at a local women’s conference,  I requested prayer. Here are the things I specifically asked for, with scriptures to reference:

• • Please pray for the people attending. Pray for people to come and that those who need to hear the messages would be there.  Pray that God would prepare their hearts and minds.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

• • Please pray for me (and for the other speakers). Pray that we will present our messages clearly, that we will have the right words, and that God will speak through us.

“Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.” Colossians 4:4 (NLT)

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.” Ephesians 6:19 (NLT)

“For it is not you who will be speaking–it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:20 (NLT)

• • Please pray the messages are received and implemented. Pray that the lessons will fall on “good soil” so that they will take root and produce good fruit.  Pray that the people attending would be doers and not just hearers.

“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Matthew 13:23 (NLT)

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

“Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God–which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (ESV)

• • Please pray for protection (of the speakers, the attendees, and the conference in general). Pray that any attacks from Satan would fail.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment, You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

This same prayer request would also be good for you to pray for other speakers, teachers, leaders, and/or pastors—it’s relevant for all.  For more tips on prayer, check out these other posts.

What are your tips for when somebody makes a prayer request? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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*Updated: Originally posted 4/5/2016